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Life in Motion

An Unlikely Ballerina

By (author) Misty Copeland
Format: Hardback
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, New York, United States
Imprint: Touchstone
Published: 13th Mar 2014
Dimensions: w 140mm h 210mm d 28mm
Weight: 383g
ISBN-10: 1476737983
ISBN-13: 9781476737980
Barcode No: 9781476737980
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Synopsis
From her childhood spent moving around to escape her mother's string of boyfriends and husbands to pressures to mold her body to a dancer's ideal, every challenge Misty faced was met with the same perseverance, passion, and drive that brought her dreams to life. A true prodigy, Misty was dancing en pointewithin two months and performing professionally in just over a year: a feat unheard of for any classical dancer. Recognizing her talents, Misty's white ballet teachers soon took her in so she could continue training at a high level. Caught between the calm, control, and comfort she found in the world of elite ballet and the harsh realities of her own life, Misty became involved in a highly publicized custody battle instigated by her mother to bring her home-a struggle which Misty talks about in detail for the first time. She also reveals how it felt to be the only black woman in the American Ballet Theatre'scorps de balletas she spanned the globe in world-renowned performances. As unique as Misty herself, Life in Motion transcends the bounds of the traditional ballet biography to tell a uniquely American story of perseverance and achievement in the face of extreme challenges. This is a beautiful memoir of identity, of passion, and of grace for anyone who has dared to dream of a different life.

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Wrenching and revelatory. * The New York Times * An unexpected page-turner...Her story is an inspiration to anyone-man or woman, black or white-who has ever chased a dream against the odds, and the grace with which she triumphs is an example for us all. * Booklist (starred review) * Thorough, sensitive...clear-eyed. * The Washington Post * [A] dramatic rags-to-toe shoes life story. * People * Engaging... [Copeland is] a poised, intelligent writer whose temperament-disciplined, determined, driven-gives the book a special spark... In LIFE IN MOTION, she looks back on the past without bitterness or anger, only gratitude. Hers is an out-of-the-ordinary story about defying stereotypes, and she shares it in an inspiring narrative that's enlivened by her own grace and generous spirit. * BookPage * Captivating...heartrending...literary. -- Lisa Jo Sagolla * The Kansas City Star * Remarkable. * Juicy Magazine * [LIFE IN MOTION] reveals a woman as graceful and powerful in life as she is in dance. -- Melissa Harris-Perry A raw, honest tale....Her memoir is filled with passion, pain, success, and...pure joy. * Ebony.com * Reads as a modern day Cinderella story...this memoir is an inspirational read-especially for aspiring dancers. * JET Magazine * Misty Copeland, a ballerina of extraordinary talent and charisma, offers an autobiography as mesmeric as her dancing. She overcame adversity in the studio, in her home life, and in ballet's own traditionalism to become one of its brightest stars - her passion and perseverance will inspire dancers and non-dancers alike. -- Eliza Minden, author of The Ballet Companion and Co-Founder and Head of Design at dancewear company Gaynor Minden, Inc. [Misty Copeland's] book is a breezy read for such deep subject matter, but her beautiful and prevailing spirit shines through on every page. * The Inlander * Reading her memoir...it becomes even more apparent how this 31-year-old woman has parlayed her natural talent along with an uber intense discipline, passion and focus, into a stellar career. * The NWI Times * Misty Copeland's LIFE IN MOTION is an inspiration to all young people. She is the Jackie Robinson of the ballet world, and a true role model for an entire generation of new ballerinas. -- Frank Sanchez, Vice President, Boys & Girls Clubs of America [LIFE IN MOTION] is the stuff of which movies are made. * Chicago Sun-Times * What a remarkable, encouraging story. Written naturally, modestly, and conversationally...[readers will] feel her triumphs and tragedies, wincing whenever she falls and cheering her on every time she gets back up....Brava, Misty. * Bildungsroman * A tale of hardship and remarkable success. * Los Angeles Magazine * A poignant primer proving the power of perseverance in the face of adversity. * The LA Sentinel * An important book for teen collections. -- Angela Carstensen * School Library Journal * Told in graceful prose...[Copeland's] achievements will encourage all those attempting to beat the odds in competitive fields. * Publishers Weekly * A page-turner...fascinating and emotional. * The Philadelphia Enquirer * [Parts] the curtain on the ballet's central illusion: that it is empowering for the female dancers at its centre. Providing a behind-the-scenes look at the glory and gore of ballet...you find yourself rooting for her. -- Deidre Kelly * The Globe and Mail (Canada) * A gift to all balletomanes, not just the brown ones. -- Esther Cepeda Misty's unwavering belief that we can be anything that we dream is an inspiration - an inspiration to break the mold, follow your passion, never take no for an answer and do it all with grace, kindness and the spirit to help others on their journey. I am thrilled that my two daughters have a role model in Misty, who is breaking down doors that that they will never have to. -- Rachel Roy